Floor cleaning and conditioning device



June 14, 1960 2,940,104

D. JENKINS FLOOR CLEANING AND CONDITIONING DEVICE Filed Jan. 25, 1960Zl'iililmumu .4 4

. a es 1- FLOOR CLEANING AND CONDITIGNING DEVICE David Jenkins, 5636Brooklyn Ave, Seattle, Wash.

Filed Jan. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 4,304

Claims. (Cl. -131) My invention relates to floor cleaning andconditioning devices and this application is in the nature of acontinuation in part of my prior application Serial No. 664,619, filedJune 10, 1957, now Patent No. 2,932,049.

An object of my invention is to improve floor cleaning and conditioningdevices and to render them more efficicient and easier to use.

Another object is to provide improved means for detachably securing padsof cloth, steel wool, polishing material, and the like to platens whichsupport the pads in a flat condition and which are readily attachable toand detachable from a handle.

Another object is to provide an improved detachable weight for use withmy floor cleaning and conditioning devices together with readilyoperable means for attaching said weight to the floor cleaning andconditioning devices. Another object is to provide readily operablemeans for attaching a liquid receptacle to my floor cleaning andconditioning devices and for dispensing liquid from said receptacle ontoa floor to which the said floor cleaning and conditioning devices arebeing applied.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

in the drawings Figure l is a top plan view of a platen constructed inaccordance with my invention and which is capable of receiving andholding pads used for fioor cleaning and conditioning, such as pads ofcloth, Brussels carpet, steel wool, sandpaper and the like.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on broken line 2-2 ofFig. l and showing a floor polishing pad applied to the platen.

Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of a resilient pad holding memberused in the platen shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of another pad holding platen constructedaccordance with my invention, showing the same as it may appear whenholding a pad, the marginal portions of the pad being visible.

Fig. 5 is a view in cross section taken substantially on broken line 55of Fig. 4, and in addition, showing a fragment of a handle to which theplaten is applied.

Fig. 6 is a detached perspective view of a pad holding member of springwire used in the platen shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 7- is a view in side elevation, with parts broken away, showing aweight means used in connection with my invention for weighting theplaten when itis used for floor'cleaning and polishing.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end portion of theweight shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 shows a liquid receptacle applied to my floor cleaning andconditioning means for dispensing wax or like liquid material on a flooron which the device is being used.

, Fig. 10 is a detached perspective view of a spring clip used forholding the liquid receptacle shown in Fig. 9.

nited States Patent 0 Like reference numerals refer to like partsthroughout the several views.

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show a platen made in accordance with my invention.This platen 69 is substantially square in outline, has a plane flat padengaging face, and is especially well adapted for holding pads used inconditioning floors. These pads may be abrasives, such as steel wool orsandpaper, or absorbent material, such as cloth suitable for applyingliquids'used for cleaning and finishing purposes, or they may bepolishing materials, such as those used for polishing waxed floors.

The pad holding means used in connection with the platen 60 comprisestwo spring clips each formed of two spaced apart side arms 61 connectedwith each other by a straight pad engaging cross member 62. At theirinner ends the side arms 61 are bent to form eye members 63. A hold downarm 64 extends outwardly from each eye member 63 divergently and at asubstantial angle from the adjacent side arm 61 and preferably each holddown arm 64 terminates in a loop 65 for convenience in manipulation. Amounting strip 66 of angle shaped cross section is rigidly secured tothe upper face of the platen 60 adjacent each lateral edge thereof. Thustwo mounting strips 66, which also function as reinforcing members, areprovided along the respective lateral edges of the platen 60. Each eyemember 63 of each pad holding device is pivotally connected with one ofthe mounting strips 66 about mid way of the length of the mounting stripby a pivot member 67. Each mounting strip 66 is provided adjacent eachend thereof with an upwardly extending catch member 68 under which theadjacent spring clip arm 64 may be engaged.

Fig. 2 shows a pad 76 of floor polishing material, such' as Brusselscarpet, applied to the platen 643. Since the material of which this padis formed does not readily bend double the said pad is preferablyprovided, near two opposite ends thereof, with two fastener tabs 71. Thetabs 71 are sewed or otherwise fastened to the upper side of the pad 70.In applying the pad 7-9 to the platen 60 these tabs 71 are doubled overthe ends or edges 72 of the platen 60 while the spring clips are in areleased position, the bars 62 are then brought down onto the tabs 71and the arms 64 engaged under the catch members 68. Thus the tabs 71 aresecurely clamped and the pad 70 held in place on the platen 60. Pads ofmaterial, such as cloth or steel wool, which can easily be folded overthe ends or edges 72 of the platen 6% do not need to be provided withtabs like the tabs 71 but can be applied by doubling or bending theiredge portions over the edges or ends 72 of the platen 6d and securingthem under the pad holding bars 62.

Preferably devices which allow for some relative pivotal movementbetween the platen 6t and a handle 15 of the type shown in Figs. 5, 7and 9, are provided for making connection between said platen andhandle. These devices include an attachment plate 73 having upwardlydivergent sides 74 capable of being engagedand gripped between twoplaten engaging members 25 and 30 which are carried by the handle 15.Said handle is fully described in my patent application Serial Number664,619, of which this application is a continuation in part. A bracket75, rigid with the attachment plate 73 and positioned on the lower sidethereof is connected with a pivot bar 76. The pivot bar 76 is connectedwith the platen 60 by bearing or mounting members 77. Providing limitedpivotal movement between a handle and the platen 60' insures fiatcontact of any pad on said platen 60 against a floor or any flat surfaceto which it is applied. The edge portions of the platen 69 adjacent theends 72 are shown straight and flat in the drawings but these edgeportions may have a slight upward curve if desired. 1? II Figs. 4, 5 and6 show another pad holding device made .2 in accordance with myinvention and comprising a platen 80 of flat rectangular shape havingtwo upwardly curved edge portions Stand 82 which form the front and rearedges of the platen when said platen is in use. side of the platen 3ihas a medially positioned transverse flat sheet metal reinforcing strip83 extending'substantially' from side to side thereof and rigidlysecured. to the platen'sil by rivets 84 or other securing means. The twoend portions 85 of the reinforcing strip 83 are 'bent or offset upwardlyso that they are clear of but are approximately parallel to the platen80. Each upwardly bent end portion 85 is provided with two spaced apartperforations 86 and is further provided with two cuts 87 t which extendfrom the adjacent end of the strip 83 inwardly and intersect therespective perforations 86. A metal tongue 88 is formed between eachpair of cuts 87 and said tongue 88 can be bent upwardly to permit Thetop 7 U-behd parts 39 of spring clips of a form hereinafter described tobe engaged within the perforations 86.1

Two spring clips are used in connection with each' platen 80 for padholding purposes. Each spring clip comprises a straight pad holding bar91 of a length slightly less than the width of the platen 89. The endportions of each pad holding bar 91 are bent at right angles to providetwo parallel side arms 92. The side arms 92 terminate in the U-bendparts 89. From each U-bend' part 89 a hold down part or arm 93 extendsoutwardly in divergent'relation from the adjacent side arm 92. Each holddown arm 93 tcrminatesin a loop 94 which forms a finger piece. TheU-bend' part of each side arm is received within one of the perforations86 and cooperates in forming a pivotal mounting for the spring clip ofwhich it is a part.

The platen St is provided near each corner with an upwardly extendinghook shaped catch member 95 with which the adjacent hold down arm 93 canbe engaged. The catch members 95 are preferably punched out of theplaten SE. A. pad 596 is secured to the platen 80 by pliable fastenertabs 97 which are attached to the edge portions ofthe pad '96 and aredrawn or folded over the edges 81 and 32 of the platen8tl and engaged bythe pad holding bars 91.

The pad 96 canbe made of cloth or similar absorbent material which issuitable for rubbing liquid over the surface of a floor.

. An attachment plate 100 is pivotally connected with the upper side ofthe platen 80 by a pivot rod 101. The rod 161 extends through endmembers 102 of the attach- 'ment plate 1&0 and through bearing lugs 1%which are punched upwardly from the reinforcing plate 83. The attachmentplate 1% has downwardly extending inclined front and rear edge members104 with which the platen engaging members 25 and 31} of a handle 15engage when the platen is applied to-the handle.

In using my device for preparing a floor to receive a surface coating,such as wax or varnish, it is desirable to apply a pad of abrasivematerial, such as sandpaper or steel wool to the platen. Sandpaper 130applied over cushioning material 131, is shown in Fig. 7 When steel woolis used the cushioning material 131 can be omitted.

When abrasive material is thus used the floor conditioning can befacilitated and-accomplished with less labor if additional weight isimposed on the platen. A con- 2,94c,1o4 r p a.

4 vided with a U-shaped'sp'ring clip 110 which issecured to the weightby screws 111 or like means and has loops 112 on its lower ends. Theloops 112 engage with the handle 15 firmly enough to hold the weight inengagement with the handle while the device is in use but leavetheweight readily disengageable manually.

Figs. 9 and show my floor conditioning device as it may appear when itis being used to apply liquid to a floor and spread the liquid as it isapplied, In said Figs. 9 and 10 I show a liquid receptacle 112 securedto the handle a short distance above a platen 80. A pad 132 of soft orabsorbent material, such as cloth, is secured to the platen 80 tobe'used in spreading liquid and rubbing it over the floor. The end ofthe receptacle 112, shown lowermost in Fig. 9, is provided with theusual marginal flange 113 which is engaged under the upwardly protrudinglug 109 with the receptacle 112 resting against the upper or front sideof the handle 15. The uppermost end of the receptacle 112 is secured tothe handle by a spring clip 115 of approximately inverted U shape. Anoffset upper end bar 116 of the clip 1-15 engages over the upperside ofthe container or receptacle 112. Loops 118 in the respective side bars119 and 120 of the clip 115 engage the under side of the receptacle 112and other loops 121 on the lower ends of the side bars 119 and 120'engage underneath'the handle 15. Thus the receptacle 112 is secured tothe handle 15 by means which permits 7 it to be easily applied to andremoved from said handle.

venient way to do this is to provide a weight '105, Figs.

7 and 8; which can be readily attached to and detached from the lowerend portionof the handle 15.} The weight 105 isprovided with alongitudinally extending groove 1060f square crosssection which fitsover and"rec :eives v the lower end portion of the handle 15, saidhandle part also being of square cross section. 1 A plate 107 is secured'tothe lowermost end of the weight 105 and is provided scope of thefollowing claims.

The receptacle 112 is used as a container for any liquid which is to beapplied to a floor. This may include cleaning solvents and floorconditioning liquids such as wax solutions. The receptacle 112 hereindisclosed is a can of rectangular cross section having at one end theusual tubular inlet and outlet fitting #122 provided with a. removablecap 123. The cap 123 has a tubular outlet nipple 124 with which a rubbertube 125 'is connected. The tube 125 is of fairly stiff rubber and if itis um'estrained it will straighten out into a position as shown by dotand dash lines in Fig. 9. When said tube 125 is in the dot and dash lineposition liquid from the can will discharge through said tube. A controlcord 126 is knotted around the outer end portion of this tube 125 andextends upwardly along the handle 15 and is used to-bend' the rubbertube 125 into a position as shown by-full lines in Fig. 9. This pinchesofi the flow of liquid at the location of the sharp bend 127. The tube125 thus functions both as an outlet tube and as a shut olf valve. Thereceptacle 112 and tube 125 makes it easy for an operator to applyliquid to a floor, as desired, immediately in front of the platen whichis being used to spread the liquid on the floor.

My device, hereinbefore described, is particularly well adapted for useon floors but can also be used to advantage on walls and ceilings. Theplatens 60 and 80 and the resilient pad holding clips and attachmentplates mounted on said platens are all similar to each other and theywill receive and firmly and efficiently hold any pad of proper sizewhich has 'a pliable edge portion capable of being doubled or snubbedover the edges of the platen. The foregoingdescription and accompanyingdrawings clearly disclose preferred embodiments of my invention but itwill be understood that these disclosures are merely illustrative andthat changes may be made the Iclaim: t

e 1. In a floor and wall cleaning device, a platen having a plane flatpad supporting surface;- two mounting strips of angularcross sectionsecured on the side of said platen v opposite said pad supportingsurface and extending along with a catchmember 108 which is adapted toengage 7 under a lug 109. The lug 109 is rigid with the handle 15 and itcooperates with the catch member 108 in securing the lower end portionof the weight 105 to the handle 15. the other or upper end portion ofthe weight 105 is protwo opposite lateral edges of the platen; twospring clips pivotally supported from said mounting strips, each springclip comprising two spaced apart side arms and each side arm having ahold down arm and the two side arms being connected with each other by atransverselyextending pad holding bar; and catch means rigid with theplaten s a. a.

. a ..h-t....

and positioned to be engaged by the hold down arms of the clip, wherebythe pad holding bar and the clip will be urged toward the platen.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which an attachment plate ispivotally connected with the platen between the two mounting strips,said attachment plate providing self adjustment of the platen to a flatsurface.

3. In floor conditioning means, a platen having a flat lower side and aflat upper side; two pad holding clips of resilient wire operativelydisposed on the upper side of said platen, each clip comprising asubstantially straight pad holding bar, two side arms integral with therespective end portions of said pad holding bar and extending at rightangles from said bar, two hold down arms connected with and normallydiverging from the respective side arms, reversely bent resilientbearing portions integrally uniting each side arm and the adjacent holddown arm; pivot means rigid with and positioned on the upper side ofsaid platen; said resilient bearing portions being supported by saidpivot means providing pivotal movement of the spring clips; and hookmeans rigid with said platen and extending upwardly therefrom andpositioned to be engaged by said hold down arms.

4. Floor conditioning means comprising a rectangular platen having afront edge and a rear edge and two lateral edges and having a flat upperside and a flat lower side, said lower side being adapted to receive apad which is provided with pliable edge portions capable of being drawnaround the front and rear edges of said platen; two spring clipspivotally mounted on the upper side of said platen, each spring clipcomprising a substantially straight pad holding bar capable of clampingan edge portion of a pad member, two side arms integral with therespective end portions of said pad holding bar and extending at rightangles therefrom, two hold down arms connected with and normallydiverging from the respective side arms, reversely bent resilientbearing portions integrally uniting each side arm and the adjacent holddown arm; pivot means rigid with and positioned on the upper side ofsaid platen adjacent the lateral edges thereof and approximately mid waybetween the fiont and rear edges of said platen, said resilient bearingportions being pivotally supported by said pivot means; and hook membersrigid with said platen and extending upwardly therefrom, said hookmembers being positioned to be engaged by said hold down arms.

5. In floor conditioning means, a flat rectangular platen having a frontedge and a rear edge and two lateral edges and having an upper side anda lower side; a pad on the lower side of said platen; two pliable edgeportions on said pad doubled over the respective front and rear edges ofsaid platen; two spring clips pivotally mounted on the upper side ofsaid platen, each spring clip comprising a substantially straight padholding bar positioned to rest on and hold a doubled over pliable edgeportion of the pad, two side arms integral with the respective endportions of each pad holding bar and extending at right angles from saidbar, two hold down arms connected with and normally diverging from therespective two side arms of each spring clip, reversely bent resilientbearing portions integrally uniting each side arm and the adjacent holddown arm; pivot means rigid with and positioned on the upper side ofsaid platen adjacent the lateral edges thereof and approximately mid waybetween the front and rear edges of said platen, said resilient bearingportions being pivotally supported by said pivot means; and hook membersrigid with said platen and extending upwardly therefrom, said hookmembers being positioned to receive and hold said hold down arms inclamping the pliable edge portions of the pad between the upper side ofthe platen and the pad holding bars.

6. In floor conditioning means, a fiat rectangular platen having a frontedge and a rear edge and two lateral edges and having an upper side anda lower side; a flat rein- 6 forcing plate rigid with said platen andextending across the upper side of the same mid way between the frontand rear edges of the platen, the two end portions of said flatreinforcing plate being upwardly offset relative to the platen and beingspaced from the platen and each of said upwardly offset end portionshaving two perforations therein; two spring clips pivotally mounted onthe upper side of said platen, each spring clip comprising asubstantially straight pad holding bar, two side arms integral with therespective end portions of said pad holding bar and extending at rightangles therefrom, two hold down arms connected with and normallydiverging from the respective side arms, reversely bent resilientbearing portions integrally uniting each side arm and the adjacent holddown arm, each reversely bent resilient portion of each spring clipbeing pivotally received within a perforation in an upwardly ofiset endportion of said reinforcing plate; and hook members rigid with saidplaten and extending upwardly therefrom, said hook members beingpositioned to receive and hold said hold down arms.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which an attachment platecapable of detachable engagement with a handle is pivotally mounted onsaid fiat reinforcing plate substantially in the center of said platen,said attachment plate providing self adjustment of the platen to a floorwhen the platen is moved over a floor by the handle.

8. In floor conditioning means, a platen having a flat lower side and aflat upper side; two pad holding clips of resilient wire operativelydisposed on the upper side of said platen, each clip comprising asubstantially straight pad holding bar, two side arms integral with therespective end portions of said pad holding bar and extending at rightangles from said bar, two hold down arms connected with and normallydiverging from the respective side arms, reversely bent resilientbearing portions integrally uniting each side arm and the adjacent holddown arm; pivot means rigid with and positioned on the upper side ofsaid platen, said resilient bearing portions being supported by saidpivot means providing pivotal movement of the spring clips; hook meansrigid with said platen and extending upwardly therefrom and positionedto be engaged by said hold down arms; a handle attachment platepivotally mounted on the upper side of said platen substantially in thecenter of the platen; a handle adapted to be detachably secured to saidhandle attachment plate; and a weight capable of being detachablysecured to said handle adjacent the lower end of the handle.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the lower end portion ofthe handle is of rectangular cross section and the weight has alongitudinal groove of rectangular shape cross sectionally consideredand capable of fitting over the rectangular part of the handle, and inwhich readily detachable spring clip means is provided for securing theweight to the handle.

10. In a floor conditioning means, a platen having a fiat lower side anda flat upper side; two pad holding clips of resilient wire operativelydisposed on the upper side of said platen, each clip comprising asubstantially straight pad holding bar, two side arms integral with therespective end portions of said pad holding bar and extending at rightangles from said bar, two hold down arms connected with and normallydiverging from the respective side arms, reversely bent resilientbearing portions integrally uniting each side arm and the adjacent holddown arm; pivot means rigid with and positioned on the upper side ofsaid platen, said resilient bearing portions being supported by saidpivot means providing pivotal movement of the spring clips; hook meansrigid with said platen and extending upwardly therefrom and positionedto be engaged by said hold down arms; a handle attachment platepivotally mounted on the upper side of said platen substantially in thecenter of the platen; a handle adapted to be detachably secured to saidhandle attachment plate; a liquid container capable of restpositioned,to deliver liquid onto a floor in front of said platen.

: References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSServa May 18, 1926 Suddarth Ian. '16, 1940' Suddarth Jan. 16,1940

Cravis -Nov. 3, 1942

